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Strengthening the Teaching of American History
Program Outline 2003

The first group of teachers completed the Strengthening the Teaching of American History program on January 10, 2004. A total of 42 teachers from 27 District of Columbia Public Schools participated in the 2003 program.

Preparatory Workshop I / February 22, 2003 Program Orientation & Presentation Skills Workshop - Program participants gathered on the campus of American University for a one day intensive workshop to lay the groundwork for the years activities. Teacher participants were introduced to historical topics, research techniques, and pedagogical themes that were covered throughout the year. A Presentation Skills Workshop was held to provide teacher participants with the skills necessary to immediately improve the liveliness of their American history lectures by incorporating techniques for scripting presentations, using props and role plays, and involving students more actively in their American history lessons.
Preparatory Workshop II / May 17, 2003 U.S. Capitol Historical Society Seminar - Teacher participants attended a one day seminar at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society and were introduced to the wealth of historical documents, paintings, and furniture, as well as the exemplary architecture of the capitol building and ways that they can incorporate these primary materials into their teaching strategies. The seminar helped to build a working relationship between the teachers and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society so that teachers can take full advantage of this invaluable resource located in their community.
Two Week Summer Institute / July 7, 2003 - July 18, 2003 History Content Course - The history course of the Summer Institute exposed teacher participants, working closely with expert faculty from the American University Department of History, to a theme or cluster of themes pertaining to a particular era in American history. Courses comprised of a blend of readings, lectures, and exposures to primary sources and artifacts through field visits to museums, monuments, and historical sites. Teacher participants received three graduate level credits upon successful completion of course requirements including an American history research paper. Curriculum Design Course - The curriculum design course of the Summer Institute conducted by the American University School of Education used a model of project-based professional development focusing on four primary objectives. Teacher participants focused on principles of curriculum design from a cognitive-constructionist position, assessment and action research for evaluating learning in the classroom, actively engaging students in work with primary sources and artifacts in history, and integrating the use of technology into the teaching of American history. Working in groups, teacher participants designed lesson and unit plans that incorporate American history content learned in their Summer Institute history courses, workshops, and seminars. Teacher participants received three graduate level credits upon successful completion of course requirements in the curriculum design course.
Follow-up Seminar I / October 4, 2003 Historical Walking Tour of D.C. & Keynote Speaker - The primary objectives of the Follow-up Seminars are to reinforce the enthusiasm of teacher participants for American history and continue their exposure and orientation to the vast array of resources available to American history educators teaching in DCPS. Teacher participants met on the American University campus for the first Follow-up Seminar to hear a keynote speaker on a special topic which ties together themes of previous workshops and the Summer Institute American history courses. This Follow-up seminar also included a Historical Walking Tour of D.C. to visit historical sites related to the history of African Americans in the nation's capital. The walking tour enabled teacher participants to incorporate a local perspective into their American history curriculum and the ability for their students to experience this history first hand.
Follow-up Seminar II / November 15, 2003 Historical Society of Washington, D.C. - Teacher participants spent the second Follow-up Seminar at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. learning about the societies many resources available to DCPS educators which will help increase their knowledge and enrich their instructional strategies of American history. As the National History Day Coordinator for the District of Columbia, teacher participants also learned techniques for helping their students prepare for and participate in this active learning event.
Follow-up Seminar III / January 10, 2004 Keynote Speaker & Project Presentations - The third Follow-up Seminar was devoted to a keynote speaker and to the presentation of the lessons plans designed in the Summer Institutes. The seminar is geared to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the lesson plans and the improved instructional strategies at raising student outcomes. Check out the photos of the teachers presenting their final Action Research projects.